No Major Problems Are Expected With Boundaries On Bosco Land

KILLINGWORTH — A title search has detected no significant boundary or title problems with the 133- acre Bosco property, which is under consideration for a town open space purchase.

First Selectman David LeVasseur said the report he received last week from the Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co. shows no unresolved boundary issues to complicate a town purchase of the Route 81 property. He said a town- sponsored appraisal of the parcel will be completed sometime next week.

LeVasseur said the title research indicates a possible boundary discrepancy on the southern end of the parcel involves the two adjoining property owners more than the Bosco parcel. ``They have more in conflict with each other than they do with the property that is being considered for purchase by the town,'' he said.

The two adjoining property owners on the southern boundary are the Madison Congregational Church and Donald and Janet Welter. Donald Welter is a former selectman.

Levasseur said the clean title for the Bosco land is encouraging. He said significant boundary discrepancies had scuttled the town's $4 million open space purchase of the Venuti property on Route 148 that was authorized by voters in a December 1997 referendum.

The former turkey farm owned by New Hampshire resident Anthony Bosco has been on the market for about a year. The price for the land was reduced earlier this year to the current $750,000 listed price.

The parcel, on the east side of Route 81 just south of the Route 148 intersection, contains an early 19th- century house and several outbuildings. A combination of woods and fields would make the land suitable for both active and passive recreational uses.

LeVasseur said he hopes to discuss the appraisal done by Glastonbury appraiser William Betts at the Sept. 13 board of selectmen meeting. ``At that point we can talk about drafting some kind of offer,'' he said.

LeVasseur said the property will be opened to residents for a walking tour sometime this fall if selectmen are able to agree with Bosco on a purchase price for the land.

LeVasseur said residents would then be asked to authorize buying the land at a referendum later this year. The vote would be preceded by an informational town meeting.